Red and Black Report: Edition No.5
Each week we’ll be keeping you up to date with how our Canterbury Rugby League products are performing in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
Here’s how they went in Round 5:
NRL
Manly Sea Eagles are riding high on the back of three straight wins, and Riccarton old boy Lewis Brown continues to play his part off the bench. The Kiwis utility played 18 minutes at dummy-half in the Sea Eagles’ epic 18-12 win over Sydney Roosters, making 10 tackles and two runs for 24 metres.
It was another tough afternoon for Wests Tigers as they sunk to a fourth consecutive loss, 28-6 to St George Illawarra, but Halswell junior Matt McIlwrick made his biggest contribution so far this season with 35 tackles and three runs for 37 metres in 70 minutes at hooker. Former Queensland Origin No.9 Matt Ballin relieved McIlwrick for just 10 minutes off the bench.
INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP
Christchurch-born ex-Warriors utility Pita Godinet returned to his old Mt Smart Stadium stomping ground in his guise as Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles’ halfback, with his side going down to the Warriors’ reserve grade outfit 24-16. Nathaniel Roache’s late inclusion in the Warriors’ line-up saw Hornby and Rockcote Canterbury Bulls half Tevin Arona, originally named at five-eighth, come off the bench. It was an unfortunate afternoon for Arona, however, stretchered off with an ankle injury. Meanwhile, versatile Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga started at lock for the victorious Warriors.
Former Hornby duo Fa’amanu Brown and Penani Manumalealii combined in the halves again for Newtown Jets as they went down 28-18 to Newcastle, with Brown kicking two goals.
Another Chevaliers junior, Jayden Nikorima, had a day out during Wyong Roos’ 48-14 thrashing of defending champs Illawarra. The five-eighth livewire scored two tries and three goals.
INTRUST SUPER CUP
Rockcote Canterbury Bulls reps Phil Nati and Ken Tofilau started for Central Queensland Capras as they were humbled 38-12 by Norths Devils, with Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima sealing the win with a brace of tries inside the final 20 minutes.
Setaimata Sa captained Mackay Cutters in a 36-16 defeat at the hands of PNG Hunters; 2016 Rockcote Canterbury Bulls star Nathan Saumalu missed the match for the Cutters.
Rulon Nutira featured in Redcliffe’s 28-20 win over Ipswich, but the match was overshadowed by a broken wrist suffered by the Dolphins’ high-profile fullback, Benji Marshall.
NYC
Cruz Topai-aveai’s barnstorming form for South Sydney’s Holden Cup team reached new heights on Friday, scoring a try and making 208 metres from 12 runs, plus 26 tackles, after starting at prop – despite the Rabbitohs going down 42-18 to North Queensland. Topai-aveai must be coming into Junior Kiwis contention for next month’s clash with the Junior Kangaroos.
